Abnormal Psychology Psychology 162

Course Syllabus

Summer 2014

Instructor: Christopher Fitzgerald, Ph.D.

Phone: 215-590-7066

E-mail: fitzgeraldc1@email.chop.edu

Office Hours: TBD

Scheduled class times: Tues and Thurs 5:30pm 9:20pm Location: TBD

Required Text: Comer, R.J. (2013). Abnormal Psychology (8th

ed.) DSM-5 update. New York: Worth Publishers.

Additional required articles are available electronically on the Blackboard website for

this course (courseweb.library.upenn.edu) under the link for Course Documents.

Course Description: The aim of this course is to provide students with knowledge about

a variety of behaviors under the rubric of abnormal psychology. The course will review the symptomology of psychological disorders and the major theoretical

approaches to conceptualizing and treating these problems. Although you will learn

about treatments associated with various disorders, the primary focus of the course will

be on the disorders themselves, rather than on the process of psychotherapy. Also

covered in this course are related issues pertaining to diagnosis, social and cultural factors

associated with psychopathology, and research methodology. This will be accomplished

through the use of in-class lectures, demonstrations, videos, and assigned readings.

Course Objectives: By the end of this course, you should be able to:

1. Describe and explain the major psychological disorders, including their symptoms and predominant forms of treatment.

2. Discuss the current dominant theories regarding the causes of the various psychological disorders.

3. Assess your own attitudes and preconceptions regarding psychological problems and develop greater compassion and appreciation for the human experience.

4. Be able to give basic information to individuals struggling with psychological problems, including facts, resources, and options for treatment.

This course will approach the science of behavior from theoretical, methodological, and

ethical viewpoints. These learning objectives will serve as guides for every section in this

course.

Course Requirements:

1. Students are expected to attend all lectures. If you do miss a class you are responsible

for obtaining the information that was presented during the lecture.

2. Students are responsible for completing all assigned readings. Students are

responsible for reading the textbook material prior to the day it is discussed in class, and

for asking questions in class to clarify material in the textbook or lecture that they do not

understand. Reading the chapters prior to class greatly facilitates learning.

3. Exams Students will take two exams during the course of the semester. The final exam will be non-cumulative and may contain all material in the assigned chapters and

material from class lectures. Exams are your opportunity to demonstrate your

understanding and application of the information presented in the course and will

collectively constitute 80% of your final grade (40% for Exam #1 and 40% Exam #2).

Makeup exams will be given only under extraordinary circumstances and only if the

instructor is informed in advance. Any unexcused absence for an exam will result in a

score of zero. Makeup exams must be scheduled within one week of the original exam

date and may be essay or multiple choice format

If you have any condition, such as a physical or mental disability, which will make it

difficult for you to carry out the work as I have outlined it or which will require extra

time on exams, please contact Student disability Services as soon as possible. This

should be done well in advance of the first exam.

3. Final Case Conceptualization On the last day of class (after the final exam), students will complete a case conceptualization, which is a written exercise that is designed to

integrate concepts learned throughout the course and one that is central to the field of

abnormal psychology. This will be an in-class open book assignment. Students will be

allowed to use notes they have taken during the course to assist them in this exercise.

4. Debating topics in mental health paper Part of the development of a knowledge base on a topic is the formations of opinions related to that topic. You will have the

opportunity to form such an opinion in this class by taking a stance on a controversial

point within the field of mental illness. For this assignment, you will write a 4-5 page

paper reviewing research relevant to both sides of the issue. The paper should include an

introductory paragraph, body, and conclusion paragraph in which you are to state which

side of the issue you believe has the most evidence supporting it. A detailed rubric with

further instructions is available on Blackboard. Paper topics must be selected June 5,

2014.

Potential topics will be discussed on the first day of class, but examples of topics

includes:

Should persons with severe depression be allowed to receive shock therapy?

Should therapists be allowed to have prescription privileges if they do not have their M.D.s ?

Do videogames lead to violence?

Academic Integrity:

Academic integrity is the heart of the academic and scientific pursuit. Violations of

academic integrity will be handled according to the University of Pennsylvania

guidelines. The university publishes an Academic Honesty Policy in the Undergraduate

Bulletin. Students are responsible for reading and following this policy. All violations

will be reported to the Office of Student Conduct. Please review the Code and ask me if

you have any questions about my expectations or how they may apply to this course.

Grading:

Exams (2 x 100 pts)..200 pts Taking Sides Paper.30 pts Final Case Conceptualization ........20 pts Total Points.250 pts

The final grade scale, as a % of the total points available:

Grade Total Score Cutoff

A+ 97 100 A 93 96 A- 90 92 B+ 87 89 B 83 86 B- 80 82 C+ 77 79 C 73 76 C- 70 72 D+ 67 69 D 60 66 F 0 59

Extra Credit Extra credit may be earned by writing up to two article review papers. A detailed rubric will be available on Blackboard, outlining the requirements for this

assignment. Students have the option of reviewing research articles from the Journal of

Abnormal Psychology or the Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology. The article review

paper will be worth five extra credit points each to be added to the total points earned in

the course (4% of final grade). This assignment is not required.

Schedule of Classes and Assigned Readings

Date

Class Material Reading Assignment

Tuesday, May 27 Introduction to class

Abnormal psychology past and present

Chapter 1

Article: Rosenhan, (1973)

Thursday, May 29 Models of abnormality

Clinical assessment, diagnosis, and treatment

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Tuesday, June 3 Anxiety disorders

Stress disorders

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Thursday, June 5 Mood disorders and their treatment

Suicide

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Tuesday, June 10 Exam #1

Sexual disorders

No reading

Thursday, June 12 Schizophrenia and its treatment Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Tuesday, June 17 Eating disorders

Personality disorders

Chapter 11

Chapter 16

Thursday, June 19 Disorders of childhood Chapter 17

Tuesday, June 24 Somatoform and dissociative disorders

Disorders of aging and cognition

Chapter 7

Chapter 18

Thursday, June 26 Law and psychology

Case conceptualization: The art and science

Review for final

Tuesday, July 1 Exam #2

Case conceptualization exercise

* NOTE: Class schedule is subject to change throughout the semester

Important Dates:

June 5 Select Taking Sides topic June 10 EXAM # 1 (Chaps 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9) June 26 Taking Sides papers due July 1 EXAM # 2 (Chaps 7, 11, 14 18)